There was a time when car owners changed their own oil. Some did tune-ups and other maintenance and repairs to their vehicles. Those days, however are pretty well past.

Cars are increasingly computerized. The skills required to repair and maintain a vehicle are increasingly technical, too. If the person working on a car doesn’t have the proper training they could do more harm than good.

Safety is also a consideration. If the automotive repairs and maintenance aren’t done right they could put drivers, occupants and those in the vicinity, when the vehicle is operated, at risk.

This is one of the differences between an established auto repair shop and a backyard mechanic. With the prior, extensive training, and regular retraining and certifications, are expected. With the latter, they’re unlikely.

An auto repair shop should also have the appropriate equipment to do the job right. This includes computer diagnostic equipment that is loaded with the latest software and updates. Once again, the established auto repair shop is more likely to have these bases covered.

Backed by the proper training, experience and equipment, the other question is a matter of character. Does the auto repair shop have a culture of honesty to match its expertise? In this case, there are established auto repair shops that come up short and backyard mechanics that rate higher on the spectrum.  Fortunately, reputations tend to stick with a business, such as an auto repair business.

Asking around, a customer considering an auto repair shop can usually come to a quick decision about whether an auto repair shop can be trusted. If not, they need to worry about whether the auto repair shop is doing unnecessary repairs or maintenance, or installing unnecessary parts.

A trusted auto repair shop starts with a focus on the welfare of the customer, where the auto repair shop that can’t be trusted starts with a focus on profits. The trusted auto repair shop is keenly aware that an automobile is one of a customer’s largest expenses. They know that customers are relying on the vehicle and relying on their auto repair shop to keep the vehicle safe and reliable.

A trusted auto repair shop matches the proper equipment, experience and training with a culture of looking out for the customer’s best interest. That includes making sure their vehicles are safe, reliable and economically maintained.

It's time for the Northwest Herald's "Best of the Fox" voting. At Performance Unlimited, we hope you agree that we've made a commitment to your vehicle(s) to ensure that they provide safe, reliable and economical transportation. If you have a few minutes, we'd greatly appreciate your vote. Simply follow this link (Best of the Fox) and write Performance Unlimited in under Auto Repair (Mechanical).

Thank you